Dispensing valve

ABSTRACT

A dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from a container, the container having a lid with an opening in the lid; the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet, the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the container lid, the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to provide a second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure; wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid, between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floor of the valve seat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/677,523 filed on May 4, 2005 which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a dispensing valve for dispensing a fluidmaterial from a container, and more particularly to a dispensing valvethat accommodates in-venting of a second fluid material (e.g., ambientair).

A variety of dispensing systems have been developed for dispensingliquid or flowable products, such as pharmaceutical fluids and creams,lubricating fluids and pastes, food products, and personal care productssuch as soap, from a container.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,295 to Gaus et al., discloses a flow control elementadapted for operatively cooperating with a housing to discharge a fluidmaterial product through a discharge opening in the housing whilesimultaneously venting ambient air from the exterior into the housinginterior.

Accordingly, there is a need for a cost-efficient dispensing systemusing a first valve for dispensing liquid product and a second valvewhich accommodates in-venting of ambient air to the container.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention is a dispensing valve that comprises aflexible sheet having an aperture therein, and a valve seat thatincludes a projection that provides a seating surface that cooperateswith the aperture in the flexible sheet to seal it. Another embodimentof the invention is a dispenser valve as described previously that canbe assembled with a container lid, and more particularly can beassembled with a snap-fit.

In one embodiment, the valve seat includes a floor having at least onepassageway in the floor through which a fluid material can pass. Inanother embodiment, the valve seat includes a floor, a peripheral rimextending from the floor, and at least one passageway in the floor ofthe valve seat.

In yet another embodiment, the valve seat includes at least oneretaining element which interfaces with the flexible disc and holds thedisc in contact with the container lid over a portion of the peripheraledge of the disc.

In still another embodiment of the disclosure, the lid is internallybeveled to permit the sheet to flex and unseat and release the contents.

In a more particular embodiment of the disclosure, the assembly includesa first valve to control discharge of a fluid under pressure from theinterior of a container and then a second valve to permit the return ofa second fluid, such as ambient air, from the exterior of the containerthrough a second valve. The first valve includes a flexible sheet withone or more openings sealingly engaged with a seating surface in thevalve seat. The second valve the peripheral portions of the sheet whichare free to flex away from the inner surface of the lid to permit flowof the second fluid into the container when the interior pressure isless than that of the exterior, such as during recovery of shape of thecontainer after dispensing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a dispensingsystem of the disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the valve disk employed in thedispensing system shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a side elevation view of the valve seat employed in thedispensing system shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is a side elevation view of the container lid employed in thedispensing system shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1E is a partially-rotated side elevation view of the underside ofthe container lid employed in the dispensing system shown in FIG. 1D;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of thedispensing system of the disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of thedispensing system of the disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a side elevation view of the valve disk employed in thedispensing system shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a side elevation view of the valve seat employed in thedispensing system shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D is a cross-section view of the container lid employed in thedispensing system shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3E is a bottom side elevation view of the container lid employed inthe dispensing system shown in FIG. 3D;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of thedispensing system of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing system of FIG. 3A,illustrating the liquid product flow from the container through thedispensing valve; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing system of FIG. 3A,illustrating the airflow from the exterior through the in-venting valveand into the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the dispensing valve, generally denoted 8includes a flexible sheet 10 having an aperture 32 therein, and a valveseat 16. In one embodiment, the valve 8 can be designed to be mounted onor within a valve retaining fixture 24 formed in a container lid 14.While the sheet 10 is illustrated as a disc, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that other shapes are possible. For example, the sheet10 could be rectangular or polygonal. Additionally, while the sheet 10is shown as having a single aperture, embodiments are possible in whichthe sheet includes a plurality of apertures. The size of the aperture 32will vary with the material that is dispensed using the valve. For manyapplications, especially in dispensing foods, the aperture ranges,typically, from about 1 to 5 mm in diameter. In one embodiment, thedispensing valve is used in a dispensing system that can be used inconjunction with a variety of fluid materials, but it is particularlydesigned for use with liquid or flowable paste-like products. The term“fluid” as used herein includes both fluid materials such as liquids andgases as well as flowable semi-solids such as pastes, gels and creams.

The flexible disc 10 includes an inside surface 11 and an outer surface13 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 3B. The aperture 32 has an annular innersurface 15. The valve seat 16 includes a floor 29 having a projection orhub 36 that provides a seating surface 25 against which the innerannular surface 15 of the aperture 32 seats to sealingly close theaperture 32. If the valve includes more than one aperture, seatingelements analogous to projection 36 having seating surfaces are providedin the seat 16 for each of the apertures. The valve seat 16 furtherincludes one or a plurality of passageways 26 through which thedispensed material enters the valve 8 from the container. Typically, theinlet diameter of passage 26 may range from about 1 to 5 mm and willdepend largely upon the nature, e.g. viscosity, of the dispensedproduct. The passageways 26 are not required to be circular in shape.The shape may be any geometric shape, such as a rectangle (whichincludes a square), ellipse (which includes a circle), etc.

Sheet materials that are useful in forming the flexible sheet 10 areknown in the art. One example of a particularly useful material is acontinuously extruded flexible sheet stock. Examples of flexible sheetmaterials include elastomeric materials, such as nitrile rubber, butylrubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyurethane, polyacrylate,polyisoprene, chloroprene, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber,fluorocarbon rubber, ethylene propylene, epichlorohydrin andhydrogenated nitrile rubber.

The flexible disc 10 may be constructed by die cutting a flat stock ormolding. The flexible disc 10 is illustrated as having a uniformthickness but it is also envisioned that for certain applications avarying thickness may be advantageous in certain applications (forexample, applications requiring varying opening pressures). The aperturein the disc 10 is usually circular, but other shapes are maybe usefulbut not as convenient to use (i.e., assembly process).

The shape of the hub 36 is such as to engage sealingly the insidesurface of the aperture 32. The hub 36 can be a hemispherical asillustrated in FIGS. 1-6, but the shape is not critical as long as thehub 36 presents a surface against which the aperture(s) in the disc 10can seal. Alternative shapes for the hub 36 include but are not limitedto beveled, rounded, conical, flat, etc.

The lid 14A, 14B and 14C, respectively may be formed from anyconventional plastic or formed metal used in the packaging of liquidproducts. FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention inwhich the opening 12 in the lid 14C includes a nozzle 15. In thisembodiment, the hub 36C has a more conical shape but this is not arequirement. This embodiment could also be formed using thehemispherical hub shapes 36A and 36B shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,respectively.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the valve 8 is shown inserted in thelid 14 of a container. Such a container typically has a discharge end(for example, opening 12 as shown in FIG. 4) that includes a dispensingend structure which may be a unitary part of the container or a separateclosure that is releasably or permanently mounted to the container. Thevalve seat 16 further comprises a rim 22 extending from the floor 29 atthe periphery of the valve seat 16. In the illustrated embodiment, therim 22 is configured to snap-fit with a compatible fixture 24 on theinside of the lid 14. Other conventional means of retaining the valve 8in the lid 14 could be used.

When sufficient pressure is applied to the contents of the container,the flexible disc 10 is flexed outwardly at the center toward theopening 12 in the lid 14 of a container (not shown). A wide range oftechniques may be used to apply pressure to the container, such asmanually “squeezing” the container exterior, or simply inverting thecontainer whereby the fluid head pressure on the interior side of theflexible disc 10 displaces the aperture, etc. When the pressure on theinside surface 11 of the flexible disk 10 exceeds a predeterminedmagnitude, the disc 10 unseats from the seating surface 25 and allowsthe contents of the container to flow through the openings 12 and 32.

When pressure is applied, the contents of the container flows through atleast one passageway 26 located in the floor 29 of the valve seat 16,deflects the disc 10 away from the seating surface 25 at the innerannular surface 15, flows around the hub 36, through the aperture 32 andout the opening in the lid 12. The direction of liquid product flow fromthe container is shown by arrows B and C, respectively as illustrated inFIG. 5. Furthermore, the direction of liquid product discharge from theoutlet 12 is shown by arrow A. While not bound by a single theory, it isbelieved that the fluid flow between the disc 10 and the seating surface25 may decrease or increase in a manner proportional to the displacementbetween the disc 10 and the seating surface 25.

In use, the container is typically inverted and squeezed to increase thepressure within the container. It is highly desirable that no productwill dispense until after the predetermined threshold pressure isexceeded. A predetermined opening pressure for the valve 8 will be afunction of the liquid head pressure associated with the column heightof the container or other sources of pressure (such as squeezing). Usinga ketchup dispenser as an example, in one embodiment the valve may bedesigned such that the ketchup does not flow from the container when thecontainer is inverted until additional pressure is applied to thecontainer by squeezing. This prevents the ketchup from beinginadvertently dispensed on food items when the container is simplyinverted and allows the user to position the container over the desiredfood item before dispensing.

In one embodiment of the disclosure as shown in FIG. 1, the opening 12in the lid 14A may have an open bevelled surface 20. In FIG. 2, thecontainer lid 14B has a substantially flat surface 18. This flat surface18 may be easier to clean than the open bevelled surface 20 and may bedesirable in certain applications. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2,the inside surface 30 of the lid around the opening 12 is bevelled toprovide a space 33 into which the flexible disc 10 can move outwardlyfrom the seating surface 25 and release the contents of the container.Space 33 is not required in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 because thelid has a larger opening into which the disc 10 can be displaced whenthe contents is under pressure.

The valve seat 16 can be formed from a rigid plastic material such as athermoplastic polymer (for example, polypropylene). In the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the valve seat 16 is designed with arim 22 that enables the valve 8 to be assembled via snap-fit with acompatible fixture 24 on the inside of the lid 14A, 14B and 14C,respectively. Other retention features may be utilized to secure thevalve seat 16 to the container lid 14A, 14B and 14C, respectively. Forexample, the valve seat 16 may be fused, adhered, or heat sealed tosealingly engage with inside surface of the lid 14A, 14B and 14C,respectively.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the valve assembly 8additionally includes a second valve member for venting the container.In this embodiment, the valve seat 16 also includes at least oneretaining element 28 that hold a portion (but not the entirety) of theperiphery of the outer surface 13 of the flexible disc 10 in contactwith the inside surface of the container lid 14. The retainingelement(s) 28 are designed such that when pressure is applied to thedisc 10 from inside the container, the periphery of the outside surfaceis pressed against the lid to form a seal with the seating surface 34 onthe inside of the lid. This prevents the contents of the container frompassing around the sides of the disc and out the container. Althoughdesirable, it should be noted that the retaining elements 28 are notnecessarily required to hold even a majority of the periphery of thedisc 10 against the lid provided a peripheral seal is formed whenpressure is applied to the inside surface of the disc 10 from thecontainer.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the retaining elements 28 are rectangular blocks orplatforms. In FIG. 3 the elements 28 have a curvilinear design. When theretaining blocks 28 extend for only a portion of the perimeter of theflexible disc 10, air is able to flow into the container when thecontainer is at a lower internal pressure than the external air pressure(for example, when the manual “squeezing” pressure is released thecontainer internal pressure is reduced). The container is vented byexterior air that passes through the opening 12 in the lid 14, betweenthe lid space 33 and the outer surface 13 of the disc 10, thereafter theair passes between the peripheral portions of the disc 10 not retainedin contact with the lid 14, through the space or chamber 27 between theflexible disc 10 and the floor 29 of the valve seat 16, and into thecontainer through at least one passageway 26.

The direction of airflow into the passageways 26 is shown by arrows Eand F, respectively as illustrated in FIG. 6. Furthermore, the directionof airflow into the container outlet 12 is shown by arrow D. While notbound by a single theory, it is believed that the airflow between thedisc 10 and the seating surface 34 (i.e., peripheral portion of the disc10 retained in contact with the lid 14 by the retaining blocks 28) maydecrease or increase in a manner proportional to the displacementbetween the disc 10 and the seating surface 34.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that if venting is notnecessary, for example in the case of a collapsible container (notshown) such as a collapsible tube or sack, the retaining element 28 mayextend completely around or around a majority of the perimeter of thevalve seat 16 because it is not necessary to permit air to return to thecontainer for sequential dispensing.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the valve assembly is used in a productdispenser and lid. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe valve assembly can be used in other applications. For example, thevalve assembly could be used on a cap for a gasoline tank, atransmission housing, etc.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to theattached figures, it will be apparent that numerous modifications andvariations are possible.

1. A dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluidcontents from a container, the container having a lid with an opening inthe lid; the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexiblesheet, the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheethaving an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surfacefacing the container lid, the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) atleast one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contentsfrom the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surfacethat cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve,wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes thefirst valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure,and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of theflexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion ofthe sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheralportion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to providea second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact withthe lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contentsof the container is under pressure; wherein by applying pressure to theinner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seatingsurface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through theaperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the innersurface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, thecontainer is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid,between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained incontact with the lid, and into the container through the at least onepassageway in the floor of the valve seat.
 2. The dispenser valveassembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet isformed from continuously extruded flexible sheet stock.
 3. The dispenservalve assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flexible sheet isdie cut from the sheet stock.
 4. The dispenser valve assembly inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet is a disc.
 5. Thedispenser valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein theprojection is a hub.
 6. The dispenser valve assembly in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of retainers. 7.The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein thevalve seat includes a plurality of passageways through the floor.
 8. Thedispenser valve assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the valveseat further comprises a rim extending from the floor at the peripheryof the valve seat.
 9. The dispenser valve assembly in accordance withclaim 8, wherein the rim is configured to snap-fit with a compatiblemounting fixture on the inside of the lid.
 10. A dispenser assembly forcontrolling the discharge of fluid contents from a container comprising:a lid having an opening therein, a dispenser valve assembly forcontrolling the discharge of the fluid contents from the container; thevalve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet, theflexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having aninner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing thecontainer lid, the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least onepassageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from thecontainer, (c) a projection member having a seating surface thatcooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve,wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes thefirst valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure,and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of theflexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion ofthe sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheralportion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to providea second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact withthe lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contentsof the container is under pressure; wherein by applying pressure to theinner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seatingsurface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through theaperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the innersurface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, thecontainer is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid,between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained incontact with the lid, and into the container through the at least onepassageway in the floor of the valve seat.
 11. The dispenser assembly inaccordance with claim 10, wherein the lid includes an inside surfacefacing the valve assembly and the portion of the lid surrounding theopening in the lid is internally beveled to provide a space into whichthe flexible sheet can be displaced.
 12. The dispenser assembly inaccordance with claim 11, wherein the lid further includes a feature toreceive said valve assembly.
 13. The dispenser assembly in accordancewith claim 10, wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of retainers.14. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein thevalve seat includes a plurality of passageways through the floor. 15.The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein the valveseat further comprises a rim extending from the floor at the peripheryof the valve seat.
 16. The dispenser assembly in accordance with claim15, wherein the valve assembly is compatibly configured to snap-fit withthe fixture on the inside of the lid.
 17. A dispenser comprising: acontainer for holding fluid contents, a lid having an opening therein, adispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contentsfrom the container; the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and aflexible sheet, the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, theflexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and anouter surface facing the container lid, the valve seat including: (a) afloor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting thefluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having aseating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet toprovide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the apertureand thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container isnot under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding aperipheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the lid suchthat a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with thelid and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained incontact with the lid to provide a second valve and the portion of thesheet not retained in contact with the lid, contacts the lid and closesthe second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure;wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, thesheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of thecontainer can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet,and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than thepressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air thatpasses through the opening in the lid, between the lid and theperipheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid,and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floorof the valve seat.
 18. The dispenser in accordance with claim 17,wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of retainers.
 19. Thedispenser in accordance with claim 17, wherein the valve seat includes aplurality of passageways through the floor.
 20. The dispenser inaccordance with claim 18, wherein the valve seat further comprises a rimextending from the floor at the periphery of the valve seat.
 21. Thedispenser in accordance with claim 17, wherein the lid includes aninside surface facing the valve assembly and the portion of the lidsurrounding the opening in the lid is internally beveled to provide aspace into which the flexible sheet can be displaced.
 22. The dispenserin accordance with claim 21, wherein the lid further includes a featureto receive said valve assembly.
 23. The dispenser in accordance withclaim 22, wherein the valve assembly is compatibly configured tosnap-fit with the fixture on the inside of the lid.
 24. A dispenservalve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from acontainer, the container having a lid with an opening in the lid; thevalve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet, theflexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having aninner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing thecontainer lid, the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least onepassageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from thecontainer, (c) a projection member having a seating surface thatcooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve,wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes thefirst valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure,and (d) at least one retainer for retaining the entire periphery of thesheet in contact with the lid; wherein by applying pressure to the innersurface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surfaceand the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperturein the flexible sheet.
 25. A valve assembly for controlling thedischarge of fluid contents from a container, the container having ahousing for a valve assembly with an opening in the housing; the valveassembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet, said flexiblesheet having an aperture therein, an inner surface facing the valve seatand an outer surface facing the valve housing, the valve seat including:(a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admittingthe fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having aseating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet toprovide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the apertureand thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container isnot under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding aperipheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the housingsuch that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact withthe housing and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retainedin contact with the housing to provide a second valve and the portion ofthe sheet not retained in contact with the housing, contacts the housingand closes the second valve when the contents of the container is underpressure; wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of thesheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contentsof the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexiblesheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is lessthan the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by airthat passes through the opening in the housing, between the housing andthe peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with thehousing, and into the container through the at least one passageway inthe floor of the valve seat.